Erosion Of Democracy

To the Editor:

On this eve of the Fourth of July, our nation will be celebrating our independence and the ability of Americans to live in a free Democratic country.

Having traveled extensively throughout the world, I came to appreciate the quality of life that we USA citizens have taken for granted. You can read about the abject poverty and incredibly low standards of living most of the world’s second and third rate countries endure, but there is no replacement for actually being there.

You would have to witness the villages that don’t even have one light bulb for 300 people or a well that can’t even provide a regular supply of brackish water for man and beast. The threat of Lyme disease or the West Nile Virus would be considered a welcomed blessing compared to the scourge of starvation, malaria or AIDS.

In the scheme of things, the little things that actually bother or annoy us are really very trivial if compared to the problems of other people around the world, who can only dream about stepping into our shoes.

We have become so complacent in our neat and busy worlds that we have started to lose track of things that are important to our functioning as a free people. We fought for freedom and democracy yet we allow it to slip slowly away. Because we are lazy and wrapped up in our own personal needs, we have forgotten to care for the principles and passion that brought us our good life.

As a resident of Newtown, I worry about the way our local politicians are not addressing our needs and are disrespecting our voice in local decisions. When mediocrity and acceptance of ignorance have become a standard of accomplishment, then we have lost sight of our objectivity.

The recently aborted town meeting coupled with a purposeful act by our legislators, to prevent us from voting our consciences on the new charter revisions, which are desperately needed, has sent a chill up my spine. It is time for Newtowners to wake up and get involved. It is time for you to question things that you have accepted and trusted blindly. If we as a community want to see our miniature world grow and prosper, we have to improve on the way we address our challenges and solve our problems.

If we allow our legislators to keep us uninformed, prevent us from knowing the facts, and then manipulate our right to vote, then we have let them degrade our democratic rights.

You can make a difference in solving our problems. All you have to do is become a part of the solution.

Barry J. Piesner

24 Alpine Drive, Sandy Hook                                      July 3, 2001